A review by callme_tippy
We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

adventurous informative reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This book was bizarre. 

I am unsure what the point was to be completely honest, like I get the overall message, but not the way it was presented to us. 

The first half takes place in Zimbabwe from Darlings point of view as a child and seemed to just bop all over the place with no direction in mind.  I struggled to figure why the beginning was so long and aimless when not a whole lot was given. It's hard to explain. 

The second half of the story taking place in America was also disjointed but at least felt more like a coming of age story than the beginning which felt "wandering aimlessly". I still did not exactly enjoy the second half because it gave very little actual information. 

I would have liked this better had it been written in 3rd person and we were able to get more information and nuance. 

I don't know, I was not feeling this style of writing or story telling, and the ending was...a choice.

I wish I had dnf'd this one, bc I'm left feeling empty and like I wasted my time at the end, unfortunately.

Also I pushed through the more inappropriate portions with the hope that it would come together or be explained or something by the end, but nope, no such thing happens.  

There is a portion where the Chinese people are said to be "ching chonging" (again this would have been better from 3rd person to give nuance),
Chipo has the child that was conceived via rape from her grandfather (we get no info beyond Chipo saying he raped her to Darling)
, Fatphobia runs rampant in this book, and child abuse is excused for just being "culturally different". This was not it. 
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